News Trend A Most Contented Dog|Actual

Ranger turned the big 1-dua today.

Yep. My baby boy is twelve years old. Which makes him eighty-four in dog years. Yikes.

To celebrate his birthday, I treated Ranger to a long, lovely walk in the late afternoon sunshine.

I know. We do that every day.

But back at home, my Irish lad was delighted and surprised when I served him a celebratory feast of ground beef, cooked to perfection and served over a bed of his usual dry dog food.

He devoured every morsel with considerable enthusiasm.

And while that may seem like a bare-bones birthday, even for a dog, the truth is this.

There's not a single thing more in this life that Ranger could want. He is, to be sure, a most contented dog.

News Trend My Homemade Cranberry Apple Crisp|Actual

Eat this crisp with a generous portion of vanilla ice cream and you will be transported directly to heaven. Well. Hopefully, just your taste buds will make the trip for now.

Oh sure. You've heard it all before.

This dessert is uh-MAZE-ing

You've never tasted anything so yummy.

Trust me, I could eat the whole thing.

I'm not even going to waste your time with those predictable accolades.

Because I've got the ultimate proof that my homemade cranberry apple crisp truly deserves a gold star. Though my family craves a batch of this crisp every other month or so, I need not lift a finger. This stuff is so soul-satisfyingly delicious, they make it themselves.

Dead serious. Maybe twice in the last decade, I've actually whipped up a batch of this lip-smacking goodness with my own two hands. But just last night, I washed out the baking dish from yet another rousing remake,

Yep. A dessert that makes itself. This one really is that good.

* * * * *

Taken from a wrinkled, creased and dog-eared page in my copy of Jane Brody's Good Food Book:

1. Mix together in a large bowl:

3 cups cranberries (That's one 12-ounce package. I stock up at Thanksgiving and keep them in my freezer year round.)

dua large apples, cored and sliced thin. (Leave the peels on. So much easier.)

1/dua cup sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon flour

2. Transfer the mixture to a greased, 6-cup shallow baking dish.

3. In the same bowl (no need to wash it), combine:

tiga tablespoons flour

3/4 cup rolled oats, regular or quick

1/2 cup walnuts (Half the time, we're out of walnuts, and forge bravely on without them.)

Stir and then add:

tiga tablespoons butter, melted

4. Mix together well - the mixture will be crumbly - and spoon over the top of the fruit mixture.

5. Bake in a preheated 375 degree panggang for 40 minutes or until lightly browned. Let the crisp cool for 10 minutes before serving.

And for the love of all things holy, please do not forget the ice cream.

* * * * *

Ready for more stories about my most dearly beloved, tried-and-true homemade meals?

My Homemade Lasagna

My Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

My Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs

My Homemade Grilled Cheese Sandwich

My Homemade Cold Tuna Noodle

My Homemade Beef Stir Fry

My Homemade Beef Stew

My Homemade Parmesan Chicken Nuggets

My Homemade Enchiladas

My Homemade Chicken Salad

My Homemade Cranberry Apple Crisp

My Homemade Pasta Primavera

My Homemade Pad Thai

My Homemade Quiche

My Homemade Potato Salad

My Homemade Cobb Salad

My Homemade French Toast

News Trend Patriotic Picnic|Actual

Observe good faith and justice toward all nations. Cultivate peace and harmony with all.

- George Washington

For a festive Fourth of July, there is nothing I like better than a backyard picnic.

Unlike the troops at Valley Forge, we had plenty to eat.

Cheeseburgers

Potato salad

Corn on the cob

Watermelon

Baked beans

And for dessert, root beer floats.

These tried-and-true favorites satisfy my family like none other, and speak to all the best American summer holiday classics.

And you know, everything tastes more festively delicious when partaken under a patriotic banner.

I'm no Betsy Ross, but with a little inspiration, I came up with a plan.

Cut a handful of plain ol' printer paper into fourths.

Use watercolors to paint stripes on both sides.

Spread them out across a sunny trampoline and let the wind blow them about.

When dry, fold two corners together and make a angled cut.

Fold the top edge over about a cm.

Glue the pennants onto a length of twine.

Unfurl the banners and set them to snapping in the breeze.

To round out our Independence Day celebration, we discussed over cheeseburgers key dates in the American Revolution, the road to independence for other British colonies, and the quick wits of Ethan Allen.

And while I can't say whether or not General Washington had a sweet spot for cheeseburgers, I'm sure he would agree that this patriotic picnic cultivated peace and harmony aplenty, as well as a contented tummy.

News Trend He Would Look Good Wearing An Ammo Belt|Actual

And when I'm not being mistaken for a Wookie, you can find me lounging under the hydrangea bush.

We had just headed out on our daily walk when Ranger and I noticed we had company. Four boys on bikes were approaching us from behind, their indistinct, high-spirited chatter pegging them as 13-ish-year-olds. Laughing uproariously, they pedaled along, quickly closing the gap between us.

They were right behind me when I heard one say:

"Dude! If Chewbacca was a dog, that'd be him."

I grinned to myself as the boys rolled past me, single file.

Several meters up ahead, Ranger courteously squeezed himself to the right edge of the sidewalk, allowing plenty of room for the still-chortling boys to pass.

As the last one slipped by, he smiled down at Ranger and said, "Hi Chewie."

Ranger looked up at him and wagged happily.

And I laughed to myself for the rest of the walk.

News Trend My Homemade Pasta Primavera|Actual

"Primavera" means spring, and this dish often highlights spring flavors. But as long as the vegetables are fresh and bright, any season's produce will do.

I may be dating myself back to the Neolithic Era, but the first time I made this dish, I served it to my Jazzercise instructor who had come over to meet my five-day-old first-born.

Yes. I said Jazzercise. I loved everything about Jazzercise, from the legitimate aerobic workouts and sassy choreography to the super chic outfits. Think pale pink leg warmers, high-top Reeboks, and leotards with leg openings cut practically up to the waist.

Hey, this was the eighties, and this was how we rolled.

Such a devotee was I that I Jazzercised right up to the day I went into labor. Mhmm. Danced my way through all four of my pregnancies, as a matter of fact, and loved every minute of it. The babies did too - they would lie still and quiet while I was at group, but as soon as I sat down in the car to drive away, each one of them would stir to action and begin her own little in utero workout.

So it stands to reason that my instructor, Robin, felt invested in this newborn child of mine, and asked to come over to meet her during my two-week hiatus before returning to class.

"Of course," I must have said. "Come for lunch. I'll whip up a little something."

"Oh, no. Don't go to any trouble," Robin undoubtedly protested. "You just had a baby!"

"Don't worry, I'll keep it simple."

Well. I might have lied a little bit. But honestly, my fresh and festive homemade pasta primavera looks like a lot more work that it actually is. Over the years, I've streamlined the process to keep each step as simple as possible, and this delicious, healthy, family-pleasing dish is well worth the modest effort.

* * * * *

Ingredients:

1 box pasta. (Let's be honest. The tri-color rotini is the cutest choice. But any color or shape will work.)

1 bottle Italian dressing

Assorted vegetables:

broccoli,

snap peas,

zucchini,

summer squash,

carrots,

and/or whatever you like

Other options:

salami

feta cheese

black olives

artichoke hearts

1. Cook and drain the pasta according to package directions. Plop it into a big bowl.

2. Set a big pot of water to boiling.

Tiga. Keeping each type of vegetable quarantined from the others, chop into bite-size pieces and drop into the boiling water.

4. Cook only briefly, two or three minutes, depending on the type of vegetable and the size of the pieces, until just tender.

5. Use a slotted spoon to fish out the pieces and add them to the pasta bowl.

6. Using the same boiling water, drop in the next type of vegetable, and repeat the process.

7. Stir the pasta and veggies together and add about seperempat cup of Italian dressing. Refrigerate for several hours, until chilled..

8. Just before serving, stir in ample portions of salami, cut into quarters, crumbled feta, sliced black olives, canned artichoke hearts, or whatever else you have dreamed up. Add more dressing if necessary.

* * * * *

This may sound like a lot of fuss for a simple salad, but trust me, if I managed to make this meal while wearing a sleeping five-day-old infant in a front pack (oh, yes, I did). You can pull it off just fine.

At the time of this photo, my first-born was already a few weeks old, but this is exactly how she looked, sleeping inside my front pack, as I chopped, boiled and stirred my way through my first homemade pasta primavera.

And yes, she really was born with that much hair.

I was lucky. Robin came a few minutes early, so while I made the last-minute adjustments to the salad, she held my still-sleepy baby girl and whispered a few of our favorite work-out tunes to her, gently stepping through the routines as she oleh.

My first-born slept on like a dream.

Our lunch was ready in a snap.

And Robin and I enjoyed a special meal that I will never forget.

My first-born has grown up to love my homemade pasta primavera,

a fact which does not surprise me at all.

* * * * *

Ready for more stories about my most dearly beloved, tried-and-true homemade meals?

My Homemade Lasagna

My Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

My Homemade Spaghetti and Meatballs

My Homemade Grilled Cheese Sandwich

My Homemade Cold Tuna Noodle

My Homemade Beef Stir Fry

My Homemade Beef Stew

My Homemade Parmesan Chicken Nuggets

My Homemade Enchiladas

My Homemade Chicken Salad

My Homemade Cranberry Apple Crisp

My Homemade Pasta Primavera

My Homemade Pad Thai

My Homemade Quiche

My Homemade Potato Salad

My Homemade Cobb Salad

My Homemade French Toast

News Trend Frozen|Actual

My second-born is hand-modeling a lime Outshine. She better not have taken the last one.

If you don't have a box of Outshine frozen fruit bars in your freezer right this very minute, you are missing out.

Frosty cool.

Refreshingly tangy.

Pleasantly sweet.

Satisfyingly healthy.

These summertime gems raise the concept of the popsicle to a whole 'nother level, and my entire family is addicted to the delicious madness.

Don't get me wrong. I know that the internet is practically tipping over these days, what with all the recipes for homemade frozen fruit treats. I take nothing away from the DIY foodies.

But at our house, we have no time for such fiddle faddle. We need our Outshines - lemon or strawberry preferred - and we need them NOW.

So I'n off to the grocery store to reload our stash yet again. See you at the freezer case.

News Trend Cleaning ADHD|Actual

This fantastically dry and sunny Seattle summer is doing great things for my flower pots.

Sorting

Stacking

Tossing

Lifting

Carrying

Stashing

Storing

My across-the-street neighbors have been busy lately.

The family matriarch, who has been a kind and gentle neighbor to me for most of my adult life, is moving. Recently widowed and getting on in years, she has graciously agreed to let go of her big, empty house and move in with her daughter and son-in-law. In a beautiful turn of fate, this good lady's grandson and his young family have decided to buy her home. So, for the past few weeks, the extended clan has been helping to pare down Grandma's household, get her settled in her new digs, and prepare the house for the new family.

Normally, June is a month for annuals to splutter and struggle as they fight to stay ahead of the dastardly slugs.

Cleaning

Prioritizing

Organizing

Refinishing

Repurposing

Paring down

Letting go

I find my neighbors' project has kick-started my own housekeeping energies. Now, I'm not exactly ready to hand the keys over to the next generation of Streichers. But there's no doubt that the seasons of life are changing at my house too. I am thinking about how my house can better reflect who I am today, and what my family needs from our home.

But this year, the blossoms are practically leaping out of the pots, and I am endlessly inspired by their enthusiasm.

Seeing my home in this new light is helping me make all kinds of useful decisions:

What furniture can I get rid of to make my rooms feel more spacious and comfortable?

Would a fresh finish invite my tried and true 80s coffee table into the new millennium?

In a home strewn from one end to the other with laptops, tablets and smart phones, is it necessary to have two old-school TVs?

Is my kaleidoscope of wall colors cohesive, or I have veered off into an unfortunate Candyland look?

Do we really still need those Raffi cassette tapes?

Predictably, this intellectual exercise has spun me out into a whirlwind of tasks, schemes and strategies designed to bring a new sense of peace and purpose to my surroundings. I've been leaping from one job to the next with wild abandon.

I call it "cleaning ADHD." My family just stands back and gives me room.

And while I'm glad that my neighbors have nudged me onto the right track for transforming our homes to keep up with life's changes, I'm also taking advice from my good cat, Luna.

I'm sorry, but your electric sander is disturbing my nap. Can you keep it down over there?

Settling

Stretching

Breathing

Cooling

Purring

Dozing

Dreaming

Sometimes, you just have to take a break and lounge in the shade.